Walter Francis O'Malley

Walter Francis O'Malley (October 9, 1903 - August 9, 1979) was an American sports executive who owned the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers team in Major League Baseball from 1950 to 1979.

Birth

Walter O'Malley was the only child of Edwin Joseph O'Malley (1883-1955), who was working as a cotton goods salesman in the Bronx in 1903, but would later become the Commissioner of Public Markets for New York City. Walter's mother was Alma Feltner (1882-1940).

Education

O'Malley attended the Culver Academy in Indiana, and then the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1926. He then attended Columbia University in New York City, but after his family lost their money in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, he switched to attending night classes at Fordham University. He completed his law degree in 1930 at Fordham Law, and then worked as an assistant engineer for the New York Subway. He then worked for Thomas F. Riley who owned a drilling company and they formed the partnership of Riley and O'Malley. With the help of Walter's father's political connections, the company received contracts from the New York Telephone Company and the New York City Board of Education to perform geological surveys. Walter then started the Walter F. O'Malley Engineering Company, and published the Subcontractors Register with his uncle Joseph O'Malley (1893-1985).

Marriage

On September 5, 1931, he married Katherine Elizabeth "Kay" Hanson (1907-1979), whom he had dated since high school, at Saint Malachy's Roman Catholic Church in Manhattan. They had two children, Theresa O'Malley Seidler (1933- ) and Peter O'Malley (1937- ). Kay had been diagnosed with laryngeal cancer before the engagement and had to have her larynx removed. She was unable to speak the rest of her life.

George McLaughlin

In 1933 Walter met George V. McLaughlin who was president of the Brooklyn Trust Company. It was through George that Walter was brought into the financial arrangements for Ebbets Field in 1940.

Brooklyn Dodgers

In 1942 he was appointed the attorney for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he became the president and chief stockholder on October 26, 1950, taking over for Branch Rickey, who was a trailblazer in baseball by instituting the farm system and breaking the racial barrier with Jackie Robinson. In 1955, the team overcame decades of frustration by winning the World Series for the first time in franchise history. Following the 1957 season, he moved the Dodgers to Los Angeles. He was sold a property in Chavez Ravine by the Los Angeles city government and built the 56,000 capacity Dodger Stadium for $12 million. His Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series in 1959, 1963, and 1965. The Los Angeles Angels also played in Dodger Stadium for their first 4 years. On March 17, 1970, Walter turned over the presidency of the team to his son Peter. Peter O'Malley held the position until 1998 when the team was sold to Rupert Murdoch.

Death

Walter O'Malley was diagnosed with cancer, and sought treatment at the Mayo Clinic on July 12, 1979. He died of congestive heart failure on August 9, 1979 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California. Less than a month before his own death, his wife Kay had died.

Timeline

1903 Birth in New York City
1926 Graduation from University of Pennsylvania
1929 Stock Market Crash
1930 Law degree from Fordham University
1931 Marriage to Katherine Elizabeth Hanson, aka Kay Hanson
1933 Birth of Theresa O'Malley, his daughter
1937 Birth of Peter O'Malley, his son
1940 Death of Alma Feltner, his mother
1942 Appointed attorney for the Brooklyn Dodgers
1950 Presidnet and chief stockholder on October 26th
1955 Death of Edwin Joseph O'Malley, his father
1955 Dodgers win World Series
1957 Team moved to Los Angeles, California
1959 Dodgers win World Series
1963 Dodgers win World Series
1965 Dodgers win World Series
1970 Peter O'Malley, his son, becomes President of Dodgers
1979 Death of Kay, his wife
1979 Treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on July 12th
1979 Death of Walter O'Malley at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota on August 9th

References

New York Times, August 10, 1979; Obituary
Burton Alan Boxerman; Ebbets to Veeck to Busch: Eight Owners Who Shaped Baseball ISBN 0786415622

External links

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